Is wearing tight clothing while pregnant bad for the baby?

I'm not a fan of Kim Kardashian. But it's almost impossible to watch or read news these days without hearing something about the reality "star" especially since she announced her pregnancy. But I will admit there is one issue about the Kim Kardashian pregnancy that has caught my attention: the excessively tight wardrobe.

Is she "squishing" the baby?

I've seen some photos of Ms. Kardashian wearing some very tight (and wholly unflattering - but that's a different issue) ensembles, and there is almost always a comment about how her tight clothes are somehow inhibiting the baby and its growth. But, that's not entirely the truth.

When you're pregnant, your baby itself is pretty well protected in the womb, and tight clothing is unlikely to restrict the baby - at least not in the way one might think. In actuality, while restrictive clothing may not directly be inhibiting the baby's growth or movements, it could be impacting blood flow.

During pregnancy, blood volume in the body increases exponentially, in order to supply both the mother and the fetus, as well as additional blood to support the process of fetal growth. Keeping that blood flowing properly is pretty important for the health of the baby, as well as for the health and comfort of the mother.

Maternity wear has come a long way

In 2013, there is really no reason for not wearing comfortable maternity clothing as soon as it's needed (when you can no longer button your pants, it's time to buy some maternity clothes). There are stylish, comfortable maternity options for every budget (especially when you have "Kardashian" money).

Clothes tailored specifically to fit a pregnant body will be more comfortable, more flattering, and most importantly, more beneficial to the health of both the mom and her developing baby.